Crossing-signal.



R. G. 'FLEXONi CROSSING SIGNAL. APPLICATION FILED 001.4, 1918.

1,297,339, Patented Mar. 18, 19'

2 SHEETS-SHEET I lwuentoz J /Z. Zero 72/ R. G. FLEXON.

CROSSING SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 4. 1918.

I l n l I I I I I H .nz NORRIS arms covv PNDT signal member in its normal Brennan e. rnnxon, or WILLIAMS'IOWN, new JERSEY.

: CROSSING-SIGNAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 18, 1919.

Application filed October 4, 1918. Serial No. 256,860.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD Gr. FLEXON, a citizen of the United States, residing at lVilliamstown, in the county of Gloucester, State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Crossing- Signal; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improved signal adapted for use on railroad crossings, and one of the objects of the invention is to provide a device of this kind comprising a signal member and a mechanism to be actuated by the flanges of the car wheels, for actuating the signal member to its vertical position, he signal being capable of restora tion by gravitation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple, improved, efficient and practical signal actuating mechanism, which may be manufactured for a small cost, sold and applied to a railroad crossing at a reasonable profit, the signal member being of suflicient weight to overcome the various parts of the actuating mechanism, so as to return the mechanism to its normal position after having been once operated by a train.

In practical fields the details of construction may necessitate alterations falling within the scope of what is claimed.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts as hereinafter set forth shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a section of a railroad, showing the signal mechanism applied and constructed in accordance with the invention, showing the down position.

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of a section of a railroad and the mechanism applied, showing the signal member operated.

3 is a plan view of said mechanism. Referring more especially to the drawings 1 designates an elongated member, which as shown is positioned under the ties 2 of the railroad. J ournaled in brackets 3 and 4, which are secured at 5 to the side of the member 1, are pulleys 6 and 7. Pivoted at 8 to one of the ties is a signal arm 9, and the Fig.

adjacent ends upper end of the longer portion of said arm is provided with a weighted signal blade 10, on which the word Stop is printed or otherwise applied, in order to signal to pedestrians that a train is approaching the crossing. The shorter portion of the arm 9 has connected thereto a cable 11, which passes under the pulley 6 and over the pulley 7. Pivoted at 12 and 13 to the inner portions of one of the rails 1a are levers 15 and 16. These levers extend toward each other, and are positioned normally so that their ends 17 extend a slight distance above the upper face of the tread of the rail, in order to be depressed by the flanges of the car wheels 18, as shown in Fig. 2. Pivoted at 19 to the end 17 of the lever 15 is a link 20, to the lower end of which as at 21 the other end of the cable or wire 11 is connected. Pivoted at 22 to the end 17 of the lever 16 is a link 23, the lower end of which is pivoted at 24; to thelink 20. It is to be noted that the connection of the cable or wire 11 to the link 20 is considerably below the pulley 7, so that when the levers 15 and 16 are depressed by the flanges of the car wheels a pulling action may be imparted on the cable or wire, to

throw the signal to its vertical position as shown in Fig. 2, said signal arm being limited in said vertical position by the stop or abutment pin 25. It is obvious that a suitable light may be carried by the signal blade so that the signal may be as useful at night as in the day. Since it is the aim to construct the signal blade heavy enough to overcome the Weight of the links 20, 23, and the levers 15 and 16, said operating parts will be restored to their normal positions after the passing of the train.

The invention having been set forth what is claimed as new and useful is In a railroad crossing signal, the combination with a member under the ties of the railroad, of pulleys mounted on said member, levers pivoted to one of the rails and extending toward each other and having their positioned a slight distance above the surface of the rail, links pivotally united depending from the adjacent ends of said levers, a signal arm pivotally mounted on one end of one of the ties and provided with a signal blade, and a cable passing over the pulleys and connecting between one end name to this specification in the presence of of the signal arm and one of said links, two subscribing Witnesses. Which extends downwerdly beloweone of the pulleys wherebyies the leversmre depressed e 7' RIOHARD'G' 5 the signal arm Willhe moved'to a Vertical Witnesses: 3 V

position. EMANUEL S. BLACK,

In testimony -Wheree-f *I' liavesigned-=-my GHARnEs RonsE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained forfive cents eachjby-'addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

wasliiiig'ton, D. G." 

